More about Todd Stinson
Favorite book as a child: Western novels by Louis L’Amour. “It would be hard to pick a favorite,” he said.Favorite meal: Steak and potatoesBest vacation destination: The Tampa area in Florida, where “life moves at a different pace,” and Yellowstone. “I would love to go to Alaska for about a month and live like a mountain man, with no comforts of home,” he said.Hobbies: Golf, fishing and hiking.Favorite local hikes: From the Cravens House to the top of Lookout Mountain, as well as Signal spots such as Rainbow Lake and Signal Point.
As he settles into his new role as principal of Signal Mountain Middle/High School, Todd Stinson sat down with Signal Mountain Community News to talk about his background and his goals for his first year.
Stinson comes to SMMHS from Hendersonville, Tenn., located south of Nashville in Sumner County, where he served as principal at Merrol Hyde Magnet School. The only principal appointed to a Hamilton County public school from outside the system, Stinson is replacing former SMMHS Principal Robin Copp, who was transferred to Ooltewah High School.
In Sumner County, Stinson, a Middle Tennessee native, also served as a math teacher and assistant principal. He then worked in Sumner County’s central office as an instructional coordinator, going into different schools to train teachers on new techniques and initiatives.
“I worked my way up and looked for opportunities to be a leader in the county and in the schools,” said Stinson, adding that while working in the central office, he was blessed to partner with another employee who had 30 years of experience helping teachers.